NSW Government should back Senate call for single-use plastics ban

NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian should back a recommendation from a Senate Inquiry for State and Federal Environment Ministers to work to phase out single-use plastics according to the Greens.

The Senate Standing Committee on Environment and Communications Inquiry into waste and recycling reported yesterday and made 18 recommendations including:

Recommendation 4: That the Commonwealth and State Government agree to a phase out of petroleum-based single-use plastics by 2023. The scope of this commitment would require careful consideration and should be developed through the Meeting of Environment Ministers.

NSW Greens Marine spokesperson Justin Field said the NSW Government should get behind this call and commit NSW to being a constructive player to phase out wasteful and damaging single-use plastics.

“The scourge of plastic pollution is littering our communities, clogging our waste systems and killing thousands of marine animals every year. The community have been calling for action and its time the NSW Government got on board,” he said today.

“The Greens are calling on NSW Premier Gladys Berijiklian to back the recommendation and direct the NSW Environment Minister to start to prepare NSW businesses and the community to phase out single-use plastics.

“They should start by catching up to the rest of the country and banning single-use plastic bags.

“It’s a positive step that a cross-party inquiry has been able to find consensus to call for a phase-out of single-use plastics and shows the seriousness of the problem. Plastic items like plastic bags, takeaway containers, straws, coffee cups and water bottles need to be part of the phase out plan.

“I urge the Premier to get on board, back the community and work constructively to end the scourge of plastic pollution from wasteful single-use plastics, ” Mr Field said.